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The sounds and the fury

Tired of the non-stop cacophony that is now cottage country? Well, Zim has some strategies for silence

By David Zimmer

In Like Zim

Looking back at the family cottage of my childhood, it’s a real struggle to come up with a list of complaints about the atmosphere of the place. Yes, the buildings were geriatric and required constant attention. And at times it felt like a summer resort for black bears. And, probably because of the vast beaver swamp to the south, the mosquito population was very healthy. But you certainly couldn’t complain about noise. There were the beguiling sounds of chainsaws and outboards, of course, and Georgian Bay provided a soundtrack of waves crashing on rocks, the snap of the flag, and the thump of aluminum boats getting pounded into the dock. The only unwanted noise I recall was a neighbour who occasionally blasted opera music across the inlet.

About Cottage Life

Cottage Life kicks off the season with a Get-Ready Guide! 138 pages of inspiration and advice including our 2017 real estate trend report, timeless advice from seasoned cottager Roy MacGregor, 10 easy DIY jobs anyone can do, a primer on generators, easy tinnie hacks, a hard-working ATV trailer, tips for setting up the kitchen and simple opening up meals, plans for building a deer-proof planter box, and ideas for converting a trailer into a guest bunkie. Plus, the restoration of a 200-year old Cape Breton cottage, and how a couple scored a $59,000 dream cottage.